Читать книгу Christmas Kisses Collection - Джанис Мейнард, Louise Allen - Страница 22

“YOU CAN’T BE working the entire Christmas holiday,” Lance insisted, following McKenzie to the hospital cafeteria table where she put down her food tray.

She’d gotten a chicken salad croissant and a side salad. He’d gone for a more hearty meal, but had ended up grabbing a croissant as well.

Sitting down at the table, she glanced at him. “I’m not, but I am working at the clinic half a day on Christmas Eve and then working half a day in the emergency room on Christmas morning.” She’d done so the past few years so the regular emergency room doctor could have the morning off with his kids and she liked filling in from time to time so she kept her emergency care skills sharp.

“When will you celebrate with your parents?”

Bile rose up in her throat at the thought of introducing Lance to her parents. Her mother would probably hit on him and her dad would probably ask him what he thought about wife number five’s plastic surgeon–constructed chest. No, she wouldn’t be taking Lance home for the holidays.

Actually, when she’d talked to her mother a few days ago, Violet had said she was going to her sister’s for a few days and spending the holidays with her family. She hadn’t mentioned Beau, the latest live-in boyfriend, so McKenzie wasn’t sure if Beau was going, staying or if he was history. Her father had planned a ski trip in Vermont with his bride and a group of their friends.

“We don’t celebrate the holidays like other folks.”

“How’s that?”

“We’ll meet up at some point in January and have dinner or something. We just don’t make a big deal of the day. It’s way too commercialized anyway, you know.”

“This coming from the winner of the best costume in the Christmas parade.”

She couldn’t quite keep her smile hidden. The call from the mayor telling her she’d won the award had surprised her, as had the Christmas ornament he’d dropped by the clinic to commemorate her honor.

“Cecilia is the one who should get all the kudos for that. She put my costume together.”

“But you wore it so well,” he assured her, giving her a once-over. “You wear that lab coat nicely, too, Dr. Sanders.”

She arched a brow at him and gave a mock-condescending shake of her head. “You hitting on me, Dr. Spencer?”

“With a baseball bat.”

She rolled her eyes. “Men, always talking about size.”

He laughed.

“Speaking of size, you should see the tree my mother put up in her family room. I swear she searches for the biggest one on the lot every year and that’s her sole criterion for buying.”

“She puts up a live tree?”

“She puts up a slew of trees. All are artificial except the one in the family room. There, she goes all out and insists on a real tree. There’s a row of evergreens behind my parents’ house, marking Christmases past.”

McKenzie couldn’t even recall the last Christmas tree her mother had put up. Maybe a skimpy tinsel one that had seen better days when McKenzie had still been young enough to ask about Santa and Christmas. Violet had never been much of a holiday person, especially not after McKenzie’s father had left.

“She wants to meet you.”

McKenzie’s brow arched. “Why would she want to do that? For that matter, how does she even know about me?”

“She asked if I was seeing anyone and I told her about you.”

Talking to his mother about her just seemed wrong.

“She shouldn’t meet me.”

“Why not?”

“Mothers should only meet significant others who have the potential for being around for a while.”

“Look, telling her I was dating someone was easier than showing up and there being some single female there eager to meet me and plan our future together. It’s really not as big a deal as you’re making it for you to come to my parents’ at Christmas.”

Maybe not to him, but the thought of meeting his family was a very big deal to her. She didn’t meet families. That implied things that just weren’t true.

“Obviously you haven’t been paying attention,” she pointed out. “I’ll be here on Christmas, working.”

“The shifts are abbreviated on the holidays. What time will you get off?”

“Oh, no. You’re not trapping me that way.”

He gave her an innocent look. “What way?”

“The way that whatever time I say you’re going to say, ‘Oh, that’s perfect. Just come on over when you’re finished.’”

“Hey, McKenzie?”

She frowned at him, knowing what he was about to say.

“The time you get off from the emergency room is perfect. Just come to my parents’ house when you’re finished.”

“Meeting parents implies a commitment you and I don’t have,” she reiterated.

“There’ll be lots of people there. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. People even I’ve never met. It’s a party. You’ll have fun and it’s really not a big deal, except it saves me from my mother trying to set me up with every single nonrelated female she knows.”

How in the world had he talked her into this? McKenzie asked herself crossly as she pushed the Spencers’ doorbell.

She didn’t do this.

Only, apparently, this year she did.

Even to the point she’d made a dessert to bring with her to Lance’s parents. How corny was that?

She shouldn’t be here. She didn’t do “meet the parents.” She just didn’t.

Panic set in. She turned, determined to escape before anyone knew she was there.

At that moment the front door opened.

“You’re here.”

“Not really,” she countered. “Forget you saw me. I’m out of here.”

Shaking his head, he grinned. “Get in here.”

“I think I made a mistake.”

His brows rose. “McKenzie, you just drove almost an hour to get here and not so you could get here and leave without Christmas dinner.”

“I’ve done crazier things.” Like agree to come to Christmas dinner with Lance’s family in the first place.

“Did you make something?” He gestured to the dish she held.

“A dessert, but—”

“No buts, McKenzie. Get in here.”

She took a deep breath. He was right. She was being ridiculous. She had gotten off work, gone home, showered, grabbed the dessert she’d made the night before and typed his parents’ address into her GPS.

And driven almost an hour to get here.

“Fine, but you owe me.”

He leaned forward, kissed the tip of her nose. “Anything you want.”

“Promises. Promises.”

He grinned, took the dish from her, and motioned her inside. “I’m glad you’re here. I was afraid you’d change your mind.”

“I did,” she reminded him as she stepped into his parents’ foyer. “Only I waited a bit too late because you caught me before I could escape.”

“Then I’m glad I noticed your headlights as your car pulled into the driveway, because I missed you last night.”

He’d driven to his parents’ home the afternoon before when he’d finished seeing his patients. It had been the first evening since their frozen yogurt date that they’d not seen each other.

She’d missed him too.

Which didn’t jibe well, but she didn’t have time to think too much on it, because a pretty woman who appeared to be much younger than McKenzie knew she had to be stepped into the foyer. She had sparkly blue eyes, dark brown hair that she had clipped up, black slacks and the prettiest Christmas sweater McKenzie had ever seen. Her smile lit up her entire face.

Lance looked a lot like his mother.

“We are so glad you’re here!” she exclaimed, her Southern drawl so pronounced it was almost like something off a television show. “Lance has been useless for the past hour, waiting on you to get here.”

“Thanks, Mom. You just called me useless to my girl.” Lance’s tone was teasing, his look toward his mother full of adoration.

McKenzie wanted to go on record that she wasn’t Lance’s girl, but technically she supposed she was. At least for the time being.

“Nonsense. She knows what I meant,” his mother dismissed his claim and pulled McKenzie into a tight hug. She smelled of cinnamon and cookies.

Christmas, McKenzie thought. His mother smelled of Christmas. Not McKenzie’s past Christmases, but the way Christmas was supposed to smell. Warm, inviting, full of goodness and happiness.

“It’s nice to meet you,” McKenzie said, not quite sure what to make of her hug. Lance’s mother’s hug had been real, warm, welcoming. She couldn’t recall the last time her own mother or father had given her such a hug. Had they ever?

“Not nearly as nice as it is to finally meet one of Lance’s girlfriends.”

Did he not usually bring his girlfriends home? He’d said her being there was no big deal. If he didn’t usually bring anyone home, then her presence was a big deal. She wanted to ask, but decided it wasn’t her place because really what did it matter? She was here now. Whatever he’d done with his past girlfriends didn’t apply to her, just as what he did with her wouldn’t apply to his future girlfriends.

Future girlfriends. Ugh. She didn’t like the thought of him with anyone but her. His smile, his touch, his kisses, they belonged to her. At least for now, she reminded herself.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Lance leaned in, kissed her briefly on the mouth, then took her hand. “I hope you came hungry.”

Her gaze cut to Lance’s and she wondered if he’d read her thoughts again?

“Take a deep breath. It’s time to meet the rest of the crew,” he warned.

“Be nice, Lance. You’ll scare her off. They aren’t that bad and you know it,” his mother scolded.

Lance just winked at her.

Two hours later, McKenzie had to agree with Lance’s mother. His family wasn’t that bad. She’d met his grandparents, who were so hard of hearing they had everyone talking loudly so they could keep up with the conversation, his aunts and uncles, his cousins, and a handful of children who belonged to his cousins.

It was quite a bunch: loud, talking over one another, laughing, eating and truly enjoying each other’s company.

The kids seemed to adore Lance. They called him Uncle Lance, although technically he was their second cousin.

“You’re quiet,” Lance observed, leaning in close so that his words were just for her ears.

“Just taking it all in,” she admitted.

“We’re something else, for sure. Is this similar to your family get-togethers?”

McKenzie laughed. “Not even close.”

“How so?”

“I won’t bore you with my childhood woes.”

“Nothing about you would bore me, McKenzie. I want to know more about you.”

She started to ask what would be the point, but somehow that comment felt wrong in this loving, warm environment, so she picked up her glass of tea, took a sip, then whispered, “I’ll tell you some other time.”

That seemed to appease him. They finished eating. Everyone, men and women, helped clear the table. The kids had eaten at a couple of card tables set up in the kitchen and they too cleared their spots without prompting. McKenzie was amazed at how they all seemed to work together so cohesively.

The men then retired to the large family room while the women put away leftovers and loaded the dishwasher. All except Lance. He seemed reluctant to leave McKenzie.

“I’ll be fine. I’m sure they won’t bite.”

He still looked hesitant.

“Seriously, what’s the worst that could happen?”

What indeed? Lance wondered. He had rarely brought women home and never to a Christmas function. His entire family had been teasing him that this must be the one for him to bring her home to Christmas with the family. He’d tried to explain that he and McKenzie had been coworkers and friends for years, but the more he’d talked, the more he reminded them that he’d already met and lost “the one,” the more they’d smiled. By the time McKenzie arrived, he’d been half-afraid his family would have them walking down the aisle before morning.

He didn’t think she’d appreciate any implication that they were more than just a casual couple.

They weren’t. Just a hot and heavy two-month relationship destined to go nowhere because McKenzie didn’t do long-term commitment and his seventeen-year-old self had vowed to always love Shelby, for his heart to always be loyal to her memory.

What was the worst that could happen? He hesitated.

“Seriously, Lance. I’m a big girl. They aren’t going to scare me off.”

“I just…” He knew he was being ridiculous. “I don’t mind helping clean up.”

“Lance Donovan Spencer, go visit with your grandparents. You’ve not seen them since Thanksgiving,” his mother ordered. “That will give me and your girl time to get to know each other without you looming over us.”

“Looming?” he protested indignantly.

“Go.” His mother pointed toward the door.

Lance laughed. “I can tell my presence and help is not appreciated or wanted around here, so I will go visit with my grandmother who loves me very much.”

“Hmm, maybe she’s who you should list on your references,” McKenzie teased him, her eyes twinkling.

“Maybe. Mom’s been bumped right off.”

“I heard that,” his mom called out over her shoulder.

He leaned in and kissed McKenzie’s cheek. “I’m right in the next room if their interrogation gets to be too much.”

“Noted.” McKenzie was smiling, like she wouldn’t mind his mother’s, aunts’ and cousins’ questions. Lord, he hoped not. They didn’t have boundaries and McKenzie had boundaries that made the Great Wall of China look like a playpen.

“Lance tells me you two have only been dating for a few weeks,” his mother said moments after Lance left the kitchen.

“You know he’s never brought a woman home for Christmas before, right?” This came from one of Lance’s cousins’ wives, Sara Beth.

“He seems to be head over heels about you,” another said. “Told us you two work together and recently became an item.”

“We want the full scoop,” one of his dad’s sisters added.

“Um, well, sounds like you already know the full scoop,” McKenzie began slowly. She didn’t want to give Lance’s family the wrong idea. “We have been friends since I returned to Coopersville after finishing my residency.”

“So you’re from Coopersville originally? Your family is still there?”

“My mother is. My dad lives here in Lewisburg.”

His mother’s eyes lit up with excitement. “We might know him. What’s his name?”

She hoped they didn’t know him. Okay, so he was a highly successful lawyer, but personally? Her father was a mess. A horrible, womanizing, cheating mess. If Lance’s mother knew him, it probably meant he’d hit on her. Not the impression McKenzie wanted Lance’s mother to have of her.

Avoiding the question, she said instead, “I don’t have any brothers or sisters but, like Lance, I do have a few cousins.” Nice enough people but they rarely all got together. Really, the only time McKenzie saw them was when one of them was sick and was seen at the clinic. “My parents divorced when I was four and I never quite got past that.”

She only added the last part so Lance’s family would hopefully move on past the subject of her parents. Definitely not because she wanted to talk about her parents’ divorce. She never talked about that. At least, not the nitty-gritty details that had led up to her world falling apart.

“Poor thing,” Lance’s mother sympathized. “Divorce is hard at any age.”

“Amen,” another of Lance’s aunts said. “Lance’s Uncle Gerry is my second husband. The first and I were like gasoline and fire, always explosive.”

The conversation continued while they cleaned up the remainder of the dishes and food, jumping from one subject to another but never back to McKenzie’s parents. She liked Lance’s noisy, warm family.

“Well, we’re just so happy you’re here, McKenzie. It’s about time that boy found someone to pull him out of the past.”

McKenzie glanced toward the aunt who’d spoken up. Her confusion must have shown because the women looked back and forth at each other as if trying to decide how much more to say.

Sara Beth gave McKenzie an empathetic look. “I guess he never told you about Shelby?”

Who was Shelby and what had she meant to Lance?

“No.”

The woman winced as if she wished she could erase having mentioned the woman’s name. “Shelby was Lance’s first love.”

Was. An ominous foreboding took hold of McKenzie.

“What happened?”

“She died.” This came from Sara Beth. Every pair of eyes in the room was trained on McKenzie to gauge her reaction, triggering the usual reaction to being stared at that she always had.

Lance’s first love had died and he’d never breathed a word.

“Enough talk about the past and anything but how wonderful it is to have McKenzie with us,” Lance’s mother dried her hands on a towel and pulled McKenzie over to the counter for another of her tight, all-encompassing hugs. “Truly, we are grateful that you are in my son’s life. He is a special man with a big heart and you are a fortunate young woman.”

“Yes,” McKenzie agreed, stunned at the thought someone Lance had loved had died. Was he still in love with Shelby? How had the woman died? How long ago? “Yes, he is a special man.”